In the first playoff game of his career, young Colin Kaepernick torched the Green Bay Packers for 181 yards rushing, a new NFL record for a quarterback. The show he put on at Candlestick may well go down as one of the greatest games ever played there.

Photo: Brant Ward, The Chronicle

BONUS: 49ers 45, Packers 31, NFC divisional playoffs, Jan. 12, 2013

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10. 49ers 23, Bears 0, NFC Championship Game, Jan. 6, 1985

Niners running back Wendell Tyler runs against the Bears in the 49ers' 23-0 NFC Championship Game win in 1985.

Photo: Frederic Larson

10. 49ers 23, Bears 0, NFC Championship Game, Jan. 6, 1985

Niners...

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9. Vikings 36, 49ers 24, NFC divisional playoffs, Jan. 9, 1988

Minnesota had barely squeezed into the playoffs at 8-7 in a strike-shortened season, while mighty San Francisco was 12-3. But the Vikings rolled to victory, fueled by quarterback Wade Wilson and wide receiver Anthony Carter. The game also featured an extraordinary quarterback change. Midway through the third quarter, with the 49ers trailing 27-10, head coach Bill Walsh benched Joe Montana and inserted Steve Young.

Photo: Bryan Moss

9. Vikings 36, 49ers 24, NFC divisional playoffs, Jan. 9, 1988

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8. Giants 20, 49ers 17 (OT), NFC Championship Game, Jan. 22, 2012

Giants Jacquian Williams forces 49er Kyle Williams to fumble setting up the winning field goal in the San Francisco 49ers vs. the New York Giants in the Championship Playoff game at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, January 22nd, 2012.

Photo: John Storey, Special To The Chronicle

8. Giants 20, 49ers 17 (OT), NFC Championship Game, Jan. 22, 2012

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Roger Craig, meet Kyle Williams. The 49ers, trying to return to the Super Bowl for the first time in 17 years, led 14-10 early in the fourth quarter. That's when Williams nearly picked up a Giants punt, backed away and let the ball glance off his knee.

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

Roger Craig, meet Kyle Williams. The 49ers, trying to return to...

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Jerry Rice and Brent Jones (84) celebrate with quarterback Steve Young (8) on a touchdown against Dallas in 1995.

Jerry Rice and Brent Jones (84) celebrate with quarterback Steve...

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Tim Harris gets a handful of Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman, then takes him down for a sack in the fourth quarter. The 49ers win ended the Cowboys' quest for a three-peat and marked the first time Steve Young led the 49ers to the Super Bowl. They hammered San Diego two weeks later for the franchise's fifth championship.

Photo: Michael Macor

Tim Harris gets a handful of Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman, then...

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The Giants' Leonard Marshall sacks Joe Montana (16) in 1991.

Photo: George Rose, Getty Images

The Giants' Leonard Marshall sacks Joe Montana (16) in 1991.

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49ER-PRAY/B/20JAN91/SP/FRL - Players Pray on the field before the game at Candelstick Park. 49'ers vs. Giants Playoff Game. Photo by Fred Larson

Photo: Fred Larson, SFC

49ER-PRAY/B/20JAN91/SP/FRL - Players Pray on the field before the...

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Roger Staubach and the Cowboys break the 49ers' hearts by engineering a fourth-quarter comeback in 1972.

Photo: Anonymous, AP

Roger Staubach and the Cowboys break the 49ers' hearts by...

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4. 49ers 39, Giants 38, NFC wild-card playoffs, Jan. 5, 2003

Tai Streets exults after his touchdown capped the 49ers' comeback win over the Giants in 2003.

Photo: Michael Maloney, SFC

4. 49ers 39, Giants 38, NFC wild-card playoffs, Jan. 5, 2003

Tai...

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Julian Peterson breaks up a pass intended for Jeremy Shockey in the third quarter. The 49ers trailed 38-14 with four minutes left in the third quarter. They looked cooked, until Jeff Garcia guided his team to the second-biggest comeback in NFL playoff history - and Steve Mariucci's last win as San Francisco's head coach.

Photo: Darryl Bush, SFC

Julian Peterson breaks up a pass intended for Jeremy Shockey in the...

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3. 49ers 36, Saints 32, NFC divisional playoffs, Jan. 14, 2012

Justin Smith and Aldon Smith celebrate a sack of Drew Brees in the 49ers' 36-32 victory over the Saints last January.

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

3. 49ers 36, Saints 32, NFC divisional playoffs, Jan. 14, 2012

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Vernon Davis runs down the sidelines after a catch late in the fourth quarter. San Francisco 49ers defeated the New Orleans Saints 36-32 Saturday January 14, 2012 at Candlestick Park in a divisional playoff game.

Photo: Brant Ward, The Chronicle

Vernon Davis runs down the sidelines after a catch late in the...

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Terrell Owens pulls in a 25-yard pass from Steve Young with three seconds to play for the winning touchdown against the Packers in 1999.

Photo: Susan Ragan, Associated Press

Terrell Owens pulls in a 25-yard pass from Steve Young with three...

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Terrell Owens' touchdown capped a compelling game that included five lead changes and three ties. The win also ended a run of three consecutive years in which the Packers eliminated the 49ers in the playoffs.

Photo: Michael Macor, SFC

Terrell Owens' touchdown capped a compelling game that included...

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1. 49ers 28, Cowboys 27, NFC Championship Game, Jan. 10, 1982

Dwight Clark makes "The Catch" against Everson Walls and the Cowboys in 1982 that might be the most important play in Bay Area sports history.

Candlestick Park sits there along the bay, a popular object of sporting scorn. It's old, ugly, creaky, windy and dilapidated - and it also flows with rich NFL playoff history.

Much has happened inside that maligned concrete bowl in December and (usually) January, from Dwight Clark leaping to Vernon Davis weeping. The 49ers staged epic duels with the Cowboys and Giants, plus the Packers and Saints, all amid the thick tension of win-or-else playoff football.

Saturday's clash with Green Bay could be the final postseason game played at Candlestick, given the 49ers' plans to bolt for their shiny, new Santa Clara stadium in 2014. This will count as the 27th playoff contest held at the Stick, a testament to the stadium's advanced age and San Francisco's wild success over the years.

Against this backdrop, it seems timely to document the most memorable playoff games in Candlestick history. Aaron Rodgers and Colin Kaepernick might fling their way onto this list by day's end, but they have a high bar to clear.

1. 49ers 28, Cowboys 27, NFC Championship Game, Jan. 10, 1982

It has been more than 30 years since Joe Montana rolled right and Clark reached toward the heavens to make The Catch, probably the single most famous moment in Bay Area sports history.

Montana and Clark hardly were the only heroes. Lenvil Elliott ripped off several big runs on the 49ers' last drive, Eric Wright made a game-saving tackle, and Lawrence Pillers forced (and Jim Stuckey recovered) Dallas' final fumble.

The 49ers already had a history of postseason futility against the Cowboys - three consecutive losses in the early 1970s - and this win ended the frustration, propelled San Francisco to its first Super Bowl and launched a dynasty.

2. 49ers 30, Packers 27, NFC wild-card playoffs, Jan. 3, 1999

As it turned out, this was Steve Young's last playoff game at Candlestick. He and Terrell Owens teamed up for one final, unforgettable play - a 25-yard touchdown pass with three seconds left.

Young nearly tripped as he dropped back to pass. Then he unleashed an absolutely perfect throw - and Owens made a sensational catch, holding onto the ball as he absorbed ringing hits from Green Bay defensive backs Pat Terrell and Darren Sharper.

Owens' touchdown capped a compelling game that included five lead changes and three ties. The win also ended a run of three consecutive years in which the Packers eliminated the 49ers in the playoffs.

3. 49ers 36, Saints 32, NFC divisional playoffs, Jan. 14, 2012

Just as Owens returned to the sideline, teary-eyed, after his triumphant catch, so did Davis openly show his emotions after he snagged a decisive 14-yard touchdown pass from Alex Smith with 9 seconds remaining.

Smith-to-Davis, extending the tradition of Montana-to-Clark and Young-to-Owens, punctuated a game flowing with drama. The 49ers and Saints combined for four touchdowns in the final 4:02, including Smith's improbable 28-yard touchdown jaunt and New Orleans tight end Jimmy Graham's 66-yard catch-and-run TD.

Davis' catch, on a route dubbed the "Vernon Post," gave the 49ers their first playoff victory in nine years and sent them to their first NFC title game in 14 years.

4. 49ers 39, Giants 38, NFC wild-card playoffs, Jan. 5, 2003

Jeff Garcia will not join his two predecessors in the Hall of Fame, but he pulled off a comeback to make Montana and Young envious.

The 49ers trailed 38-14 with four minutes left in the third quarter. They looked cooked, until Garcia guided his team to the second-biggest comeback in NFL playoff history - and Steve Mariucci's last win as San Francisco's head coach.

Garcia threw two touchdown passes (one to Terrell Owens and one to Tai Streets), ran for another score and completed two 2-point conversion passes as the 49ers reeled off 25 consecutive points (they also kicked a field goal). They still nearly lost, but Trey Junkin's botched snap ruined New York's try for a game-winning field goal as time expired.

The 49ers, in the second postseason game held at Candlestick, led 28-13 entering the fourth quarter. That's when Cowboys coach Tom Landry made the fateful, prescient decision to replace Craig Morton with Staubach.

Dallas still trailed 28-16 with 2 minutes left, but Staubach orchestrated a furious comeback. He connected with Billy Parks on a 20-yard touchdown pass with 1:20 remaining, and the Cowboys recovered the onside kick when Riley fumbled.

Staubach quickly took Dallas on another touchdown drive, capped by a 10-yard pass to Ron Sellers. It was the third consecutive year the Cowboys eliminated the 49ers.

6. Giants 15, 49ers 13, NFC Championship Game, Jan. 20, 1991

They stood on the brink of NFL history, less than three minutes from a chance at winning their unprecedented third consecutive Super Bowl title. Then the ball slipped out of Roger Craig's hands.

There were many elements in New York's win, but most people remember Craig's fumble - late in the game, in Giants territory, with the 49ers milking the clock and trying to protect their 13-12 lead. Nose tackle Erik Howard knocked the ball loose and linebacker Lawrence Taylor recovered.

Soon thereafter, Matt Bahr's 42-yard field goal sent the Giants, not the 49ers, into the Super Bowl. Another notable moment from this game: Joe Montana sustaining a broken right hand after absorbing a ferocious hit from New York's Leonard Marshall.

7. 49ers 38, Cowboys 28, NFC Championship Game, Jan. 15, 1995

As they did 13 years earlier, the 49ers shed their Texas-sized albatross. They had lost to Dallas in the title game the previous two years, but this time they jumped ahead 21-0 and held on to win. Troy Aikman's three interceptions helped.

The win ended the Cowboys' quest for a three-peat and marked the first time Young led the 49ers to the Super Bowl. They hammered San Diego two weeks later for the franchise's fifth championship.

8. Giants 20, 49ers 17 (OT), NFC Championship Game, Jan. 22, 2012

Roger Craig, meet Kyle Williams.

The 49ers, trying to return to the Super Bowl for the first time in 17 years, led 14-10 early in the fourth quarter. That's when Williams nearly picked up a Giants punt, backed away and let the ball glance off his knee. New York recovered and soon scored, on a touchdown catch by Mario Manningham, to move ahead 17-14.

David Akers' subsequent field goal sent the game into overtime, but Williams fumbled on a punt return, and the Giants recovered. Lawrence Tynes then kicked a 31-yard field goal to secure Williams' dubious place in 49ers playoff lore.

9. Vikings 36, 49ers 24, NFC divisional playoffs, Jan. 9, 1988

Twenty-five years ago, in a steady rain, the Vikings stunned the 49ers in a huge upset.

Minnesota had barely squeezed into the playoffs at 8-7 in a strike-shortened season, while mighty San Francisco was 12-3. But the Vikings rolled to victory, fueled by quarterback Wade Wilson and wide receiver Anthony Carter (10 catches for 227 yards).

The game also featured an extraordinary quarterback change. Midway through the third quarter, with the 49ers trailing 27-10, head coach Bill Walsh benched Montana and inserted Young. He ran for one touchdown and threw for another, but it was not enough.

10. 49ers 23, Bears 0, NFC Championship Game, Jan. 6, 1985

These 49ers were not all about Montana and a high-powered offense.

San Francisco's defense pitched a shutout, sacking Chicago quarterback Steve Fuller nine times and holding the Bears to 186 yards of total offense (nearly half by running back Walter Payton). It was practically Bears-like - the next season, Chicago would ride its dominant defense to the franchise's only Super Bowl title.

The 49ers moved one step closer to winning the championship without leaving the Bay Area. Two weeks later, they raced past Miami in Super Bowl XIX at Stanford Stadium.